Rising Stars

With scouts looking on, softball players put talents on display

January 13, 2008|BY GARY CURRERI SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

With an estimated 15 college coaches in attendance, Lauren Spoo, of Boynton Beach, did what she does best - play softball.

The 18-year-old Spoo, a pitcher for the West Boynton Lady Bandits, struck out the side five times and hit a home run in a victory over the Tamiami Lady Panthers on Jan. 5 at Brian Piccolo Park in the Rising Stars Winter Showcase.

What made it even more special for Spoo was that Heidi Freitager, an assistant softball coach at Temple University, was in attendance. Spoo is interested in pre-med and said she hopes to go to Temple.

"It was a lot of adrenaline," said Spoo, a senior at Park Vista High School, who scored a 1380 on the verbal and math portions of her SAT. "I pitched and struck out the side and then I was the first batter up to bat and I just hit it over the fence. I was just really happy because of all the years I worked and I put so much time into it. This is where it pays off."

The 14th annual showcase was held Jan. 4-6 and there were 126 teams split into 22 brackets of play based on levels of competitiveness and demographics.

Games were played at Bamford Park in Davie and Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City, and teams came from Seattle, Canada, New Jersey, Texas, Iowa, Illinois and throughout Florida. Most of the teams were 18-under squads, but there also were also a dozen 16-under teams.

Tournament Director Cyd Weiner said many other showcase tournaments choose to cap the number of teams because they don't have the facilities, or they only take the best teams.

She estimates that more than 90 percent of the players who have played in the tournament over the years have been recruited to play at the collegiate level.

"Rising Stars' philosophy always was and always will be, 'There is a place for everybody to play,' " Weiner said.

"We provide an affordable tournament for the college coach, whether it be a junior college or a Division III program that doesn't have the same budget as a D-1 school like the University of Florida."

Palm Beach Gardens High School softball coach Randy Jackson, who also is coach of the Miken Lady Gators from Palm Beach Gardens, is in his second year with the travel team. He's won two Class 6A state titles at the high school.

"It is a very talented group and a treat to be around," said Jackson, who has players on his team from as far north as Jupiter and as far south as Pembroke Pines. "They really want to play."

"When I come to tournaments such as these, I am a salesman, I guess," Jackson said. "I try and sell my players and tell them why they can help their college program be successful."

Lady Gators manager Gregg Simpson, who brought Jackson in two years ago, said a handful of the girls have been on the team since they were 9.

"They have gone through all of the top levels of competitive softball in their age groups and they have amassed about 45 championships during that time," Simpson said. "As they get older, it is more about getting them college exposure for scholarships."

Haley Fleming, 16, a middle infielder and outfielder for the Gators and a Palm Beach Gardens High School sophomore, is one of the original players on the team.

"It is something that if you are having a bad day, you can escape," said Fleming, a team member for nine years. "It is good for you. It keeps you healthy, active and it is enjoyable."

Heather Simpson, 17, of Jupiter, said she enjoys playing in front of large crowds. She also said her closest friends are all softball players.

"I am not nervous at all," said Simpson, a pitcher and first baseman, who is a junior at Jupiter High and an original member of the team.

"I love performing in front of people. I am jacked. I'm like, 'Let's do this.' I have been doing this so long. Sometimes I will get a little nervous if I make a bad pitch or something, but I really don't feel any different, I just play the game."

West Boynton Lady Bandits coach Rick Dewalt appreciates the exposure to college programs for the players and strong competition provided by the tournament.

"Practices and games is when we coach," said Dewalt, a high school guidance counselor at Park Vista who has been coaching the team since 1997. "The rest of the time during the week I spend time contacting college coaches and setting up college visits."